Insurance

Opponents Accuse Proposition 33 Backers of Breaking Campaign Law

July 16, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> SACRAMENTO -- Opponents of an auto insurance industry-backed ballot measure are accusing the pro-Proposition 33 campaign of breaking the law by grabbing online domains that appeal to voters opposed to the measure and redirecting them to the Yes campaign's website.<br /> <br />

Honor Nataline Sarkisyan and Fight For Health Insurance Reform This Saturday

July 11, 2012  ·  Carmen Balber

<p> <a href="http://www.itsmyseat.com//events/232875.html"><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2446" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/images_fashionlegacy.png" style="width: 221px; height: 136px; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" width="221" height="136" /></a>Consumer Watchdog Hall of Famer <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/video/hilda-sarkisyans-speech-2011-rage-justice-awards">Hilda Sarkisyan lost her 17-year-old daughter Nataline</a> after their insurance company CIGNA refused to pay for a potentially life-saving transplant.</p>

Portable Persistency Now Prop. 33; Consumer Watchdog Attacks

July 10, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> An initiative to establish portable persistency discounts for automobile insurance on Tuesday was assigned a number by the Secretary of State, and shortly afterward the newly named Proposition 33 came under attack by Santa Monica, Calif.-based Consumer Watchdog.</p>

California Rejects Blue Shield Plan To Close Policies To New Customers

July 4, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones denied Blue Shield of California's plan to close several of its health policies to new customers, saying it violated state rules designed to protect consumers from large rate increases.<br /> <br /> Regulators routinely scrutinize efforts by health insurers to stop enrollment on some policies because the pool of existing customers can face escalating premiums as policyholders get older and incur more medical claims, without healthier applicants to offset those costs.<br /> <br />

Health Insurance Rebates: Say Goodbye if Brokers Get Their “Pay Guarantee”

July 3, 2012  ·  Judy Dugan

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Health Insurance Rate Hike Measure Won’t Be on November Ballot

June 29, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Proponents of greater state regulation of premiums fail to gather enough signatures to put it before voters in the presidential election. They still hope to get it on the November 2014 ballot.</b></p> <p> A proposed voter initiative to require greater regulation of health insurance premiums in California has failed to qualify for the November ballot, according to the measure's author.</p>

Initiative on Health Insurance Rates Won’t Make November Ballot

June 28, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> An initiative that seeks to regulate health insurance rates will not qualify for the November ballot, but proponents say California voters will have a say on the measure in 2014.<br /> <br /> "We're disappointed, but we're also hopeful that the extra time will make the cause even greater," said Jamie Court, president of the initiative's backer, Consumer Watchdog.<br /> <br />

Fate Of Health Insurance Regulation Measure Up In The Air

June 27, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="asset-content entry-content lingo_region"> <div class="asset-body"> <div class="asset-content entry-content lingo_region"> <div class="asset-body"> There's still one potential November ballot measure pending - one that would subject health insurance rates to state regulation - and with only hours before the qualification deadline, its fate is up in the air.<br /> <br />

The Insurance Industry Loves Its Secrets

June 21, 2012  ·  Judy Dugan

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2206" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_judydrawingname.gif" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; width: 133px; height: 200px; " width="133" height="200" />Just when consumers are finally getting a look at how health insurance companies conduct their business, the industry is racing to shut and lock the door. Buried deep in a "model law" for states to update health insurance regulation is a clause that would keep secret the companies' justification for  exorbitant rate increases.</p>

Google Stock Split Wins Approval; CEO Loses Voice

June 21, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

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Hilda Sarkisyan and CW fight for insurance justice in DC

June 15, 2012  ·  Carmen Balber

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Blue Shield Sued Over ‘Death Spiral’ Allegation

June 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN FRANCISCO -- A consumer group has sued Blue Shield, accusing the health insurer of using big rate hikes to force older and sicker people into low-benefit and high-deductible plans, a tactic the group calls a "death spiral."<br /> <br /> Consumer Watchdog announced the suit Wednesday during a news conference in front of Blue Shield's corporate headquarters in San Francisco.<br /> <br /> The group accuses Blue Shield of closing certain policies to new customers, then sharply raising rates for those remaining in the plans.<br /> <br />